Mudskipperムツゴロウ

Boleophthalmus pectinirostrisLC— Least Concern

The great blue-spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris), known in Japan as mutsugoro, is an amphibious goby that lives on muddy tidal flats in Japan's Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, as well as coastal Korea, China, and Taiwan. It breathes partly through its skin and water held in its mouth, allowing it to leave the water and crawl on its pectoral fins or leap across mud while grazing on diatoms and other benthic algae. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Mudskipper (reference photo)
Photo: Totti / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Gobiiformes / Oxudercidae Source
Distribution
Native to the northwestern Pacific including Japan, eastern China, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula, inhabiting muddy tidal flats near river mouths and mangroves; in Japan it is restricted to the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas. Source

Did You Know?

  • It can breathe through its skin and water held in its mouth, letting it leave the water to crawl on its pectoral fins or leap using its whole body. Source
  • When fleeing, it makes rapid, frog-like consecutive jumps, making it surprisingly hard to catch. Source
  • In the Ariake Sea region, it is traditionally caught using a technique called "mutsukake," which resembles fly fishing with a hook. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

長崎ペンギン水族館 (Nagasakipengin Suizokukan)NagasakiOpened in 2001

長崎ペンギン水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Latest news

1

Open the news index

Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Boleophthalmus pectinirostrisはIUCNでLCです。干潟の減少は地域個体群にとって重要な課題です。

Habitat

東アジアの河口・干潟の汽水域。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit
A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving
Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei
Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

How does a mudskipper breathe out of water?
It breathes partly through its skin and through water it holds in its mouth, letting it stay active on exposed mudflats. Source
What does the mudskipper eat?
It is herbivorous, grazing on diatoms and other benthic algae from the surface of the mud. Source
Why is it hard to catch a mudskipper?
When fleeing, it makes rapid, frog-like consecutive jumps across the mud, which makes it surprisingly difficult to catch. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org